MA books that could appeal to non-martial artists

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

Can anyone recommend any books about martial arts that might also appeal to people who are not involved in martial arts in any way? I'm looking for some suggestions for my book group (I'm the only MA person in it).

[YODA]

"Moving Zen" by CW Nicol

It's a great story - MA or not.

[teacher]

I could suggest a couple that have been mentioned recently by some folk.
"Angry White Pyjamas" by Robert Twigger . An Englishman in Japan decides he needs exercise so he signs up for the Aikido Course which is run for the Riot Police. Humerous, insight into different cultures etc etc.
"Punchbag" by Robert Llewellyn. Features strong language and adult situations. A young man becomes a padded assailant for womens self defence classes. Raises interesting issues about personal safety and gender issues.

[morphus]

Some of the Geoff Thompson books come to mind - "Watch my back" his biography
Or "The Elephant & the Twig(the art of positive thinking)"
Among others.....

Check the website www.geoffthompson.com for a list of other publications.:)

[SoKKlab]

Zen and the Art of Streetfighting by Jack Sabat (Frog Ltd)
is a really good read, although it might put the reader off Martial arts completely, due to its hilarious Fight descriptions.

Balisong Iron Butterfly is a part training manual part life story by Cacoy Boy Hernandez about life in the phillipines in the late forties/ early fifties.

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

I just wanted to thank everyone who's made book recommendations here (and those who may yet do so). I'll be checking these out!

[wutan]

'Angry White Pyjames' by Robert Twigger.
Excellent account of training with the Japanese riot Police in Tokyo.Full time year long course in Yoshinkan Aikido.

[Goju]

Non ma people could maybe read "the classical man" by O'sensei Richard Kim, the stories in it teach good everyday lessons that don't all relate to martial arts. The book of five rings , miyamoto musashi, is also good because it has a great history behind it, things could be interperated by you to other non ma book club members, and I found it really interesting. Overall all I would say Classsical man is the best because it has interactive features to it like on pg 158 it shows how to do za-zen (which anyone can try regardlesss of ma training) and even more so, how to relax, let alone finding zen.
What kinda books do these have to be??:woo: :woo: :woo: :D :o :( :) ;) :p

[YODA]

Good choice - Classical Man is errrr.... a classic :D

His 1st book - The Weaponless Warrior - is also a good read.

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

Once again, thanks to all for these suggestions. My book group reads all kinds of books, fiction and non-fiction (well, I'm still trying to convince them to try reading a book of poetry!) About the only kind of books we won't touch are cheesy romance novels. We do try to incorporate everyone's interests into our selections; that's why I'm searching for something martial arts-related. For what its worth, the book group is all women, and I'm the youngest person in it.

[Goju]

I've never read weaponless warrior but i really want to get it! Another suggestion would be (someone help me out) that book that's called the book of the samurai, but it has a japanese name, anyway you could also read zen in the martial arts, or karate-do my way of life (if your into karate) which ma are u guys in anyways???

[YODA]

Just having a browse through my book collection - here are a few I would recommend for both MAs and none MAs, in no particular order.

The Making of a Martial Artist - S.K.Shim
Spirit of the Empty Hand - Stan Schmidt
Tao - The Watercourse Way - Alan Watts
Black Holes & Baby Universes - Steven Hawking
The Different Drum - M.Scott Peck
The Road Less Travelled - M.Scott Peck
The Road Less Travelled and Beyond - M.Scott Peck
Further Along the Road Less Travelled - M.Scott Peck
People Watching - Desmond Morris
The Karate Sensei - Peter Urban
Iron & Silk - Mark Salzman
The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
The Philosophy Gym - Stephen Law

[Saz]

I'm with Morphus on this one. Geoff Thompson books, becuase they're well written and gripping, so non MA-er won't get overly bogged down with the technical aspects of things.

[sys-x]

I think d_rza is talking about Hagakure. There are a number of different translations of this around but I have no idea which is best since I've only read the William Wilson one, but that would be fine for non MA people to read.

Zen in Martial Arts by Joe Hyams is ok - a bit cheesy and he does name-drop Bruce Lee quite a lot but theres an anecdote in there I really like about how he learns not to limit himself by worrying about how long it will take for him to reach a certain level of ability. I think this would be suitable for non MAists too

[David]

Journey to the west AKA Monkey!

Magic oooh :)

rgds,
Davd

[Kat]

KT
I think you would really enjoy

Ima KoKo (The here and Now)
Poetry of Mitsuo Aida Translated by Tim Jensen Diamond Inc

and

The Taoist Body by Kristofer Schipper

Not really MA books I think you would dig them.

[AgentX]

Hagacure is interesting even for someone that is not a MArtist.

[Goju]

Thats true, but make sure you get a good version of it, some of the translation and production companies do a poor job.

What about Karate-do my way of life